Everything You Know about Money Is Wrong: Overcome the Financial Myths Keeping You from the Life You Want

Wow! This book is so much more than I bargained for. I bought it in my never ending quest to see how I could earn more money. But the book gave me insights about why I don't think I have enough in the first place! This book really broke the blind cycle that we're all in about spend-consume-spend-consume and still be dissatisfied. It also gave great advice about helping to build character in my kids by setting limits regarding what I will and will not buy them and requiring them to participate in earning money for what they want. This book could be called "Everything You Know About A Lot of Things is Wrong!" I loved it and have sent it to six people already.

This down-to-earth and refreshingly non-prescriptive book helps put the whole money issue in perspective. The author shows you how to question your existing assumptions and separate out common emotional responses to financial decision-making -- some of which may actually be preventing you from accomplishing your most cherished and deeply held goals in life! In addition to the sensible advice, the client stories add a lot of heart and depth. And I particularly appreciated the notion (explained in detail in the second section) that if you understand what your goals are, and clearly understand your spending habits, you'll change your behavior, not because you *should*, but because you *want to*, in order to make your dreams happen. This is a gift. Highly recommended. P.S. This author is a great speaker and if you get a chance to see her in person, jump at it. You'll be entertained and amused, and come away much wiser as well.

In this era of financial planning "sound bytes" that arethrust upon us and the ever increasing skewed morals of what money"should" mean - it is quite refreshing to see someone step up to the plate and "Stop the Insanity". The extra baggage we all carry from the media's guilt driven "supermodel" of what we as a society should buy into is ridiculous at best. The myths that Ms. Ramsey outlines in her book ring true to me as I try to justify my life with or without money. It is a startling wakeup call that points out just what is WRONG with our entrenched philosophy of what money is for. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Ramsey's client stories and felt connected with their journey. An essential "Life" book that should be proudly displayed on your bookshelf as a reminder of why money shouldn't buy everything. Kudo's on Ms. Ramsey's website which cuts to the chase of planning your life with money.

This book brings a lot of heart, humor and no-nonsense good sense to the matter of putting money in its proper place in one's life. Karen Ramsey communicates her messages both directly and through many stories of experiences with her clients.Beginning with the admission that most of us were never explicitly taught much about the basics of money, and maintaining that the value of our lives comes from within each of us, Ramsey takes us on several adventures at a very personal level. Though I expected some kind of "how-to" advice, I was surprised at how moving and inspiring were the real-life stories of people accomplishing what they'd thought was not possible. As I read, I couldn't help but notice how so many of the concerns we have are so similar, yet so often held privately. I found myself more powerfully related to money and it's role in my life.Reading this book can make a distinct difference in your financial well-being.

I have never been very confident with money or money management. It's important stuff, but the whole subject has always been emotionally difficult for me. I've felt that everyone else knew how to manage their money, and somehow I'd just been absent from class the day that was taught.This book is a refreshing blast of fresh air. It begins by acknowledging that lots of people felt as I did, and then acknowledges that in fact most people never have been taught to manage their money; we somehow expect ourselves to just "know". Of course, that's silly, and this easy-to-read, practical book dispels one myth after another.The most refreshing and useful aspect of this book is that it is infused with an attitude that respects your emotions and spirit as much as your finances. Your money exists to serve you and your goals, not the other way around. All the smart advice from friends and family - you "should" buy a house, you "must" pay for kid's education, you "need" to save a certain percent - are bogus. What you really need to do is figure out what you want, and then use your money as a tool to help get you there. If that means save, then save. If that means spend, then spend. But do it with your eyes open and as the result of a consicous tradeoff of the costs and benefits.This book reveals those costs and benefits clearly. When you're done, you'll be able to sit down and draw up a master game plan for your money, and dispense those "shoulds" and "oughts" to the dustbin, replacing them with the moves that are right for you.I recommend this book highly. It's warm, personal, no-nonsense, direct, and highly readable.